Smart probe
AssigneeFaro Technologies, Inc.
InventorsClark H. Briggs, Keith George Macfarlane, Frederick John York, Marc Barber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present system, method, article of manufacture, software, and apparatus is an “intelligent” probe system and components thereof and may openly encompass, in at least an embodiment, an embedded IC chip located in an interchangeable probe(s) which offers repeatable, fast, easy, and error free probe swapping on a CCM.
Claims31
A removable probe for use with a coordinate measuring machine, the removable probe comprising:
- a probe body having a probe tip;
- a memory that stores probe data corresponding to the removable probe;
- and
- a connector that connects the probe body to an arm of the coordinate measuring machine, wherein communication between the probe body and the arm occurring through wired or wireless methods;
- wherein the probe data comprises one or more attributes of the removable probe and a serial number that identifies the removable probe to the coordinate measuring machine when the probe body is connected to the arm of the coordinate measuring machine.
A method of using a coordinate measuring machine with a plurality of removable probes, the method comprising:
- storing data in each of the plurality of removable probes, wherein the stored data comprises a serial number unique to each one of the plurality of removable probes;
- connecting one of the plurality of removable probes to the coordinate measuring machine;
- and
- automatically recognizing the one of the plurality of removable probes connected to the coordinate measuring machine by reading the serial number for the connected removable probe.
A method of using a removable probe with a plurality of coordinate measuring machines, the method comprising:
- storing data in the removable probe, wherein the stored data comprises a serial number unique to the removable probe;
- connecting the removable probe to one of the plurality of the coordinate measuring machines;
- and
- automatically recognizing the removable probe connected to the one of the plurality of coordinate measuring machines by reading the serial number for the connected removable probe.
A coordinate measuring machine, comprising:
- an arm;
- a probe having a probe body connected to the arm, the probe having a probe tip that measures one or more points on an object in one or more dimensions either through contact with the object or without contact with the object;
- a processor that processes the measured one or more points on the object to determine dimensional coordinates of at least a portion of the object being measured;
- a memory that stores information, wherein the stored information comprises the processed measured one or more points on the object;
- and
- a temperature sensor connected with the arm or the probe, wherein the temperature sensor measures a temperature of the one or more points of at least a portion of the object being measured in one or more dimensions by the probe, wherein the memory stores the measured temperature of the one or more points of at least a portion of the object being measured in one or more dimensions by the probe.
A removable probe for use with a coordinate measuring machine, the removable probe comprising:
- a probe body;
- a memory that stores probe data corresponding to the removable probe;
- and
- a connector that connects the probe body to an arm of the coordinate measuring machine;
- wherein the probe data comprises one or more attributes of the removable probe and a serial number that identifies the removable probe to the coordinate measuring machine when the probe body is connected to the arm of the coordinate measuring machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.